Free: Santa Anita horses to watch for week of Jan. 30
PARADISE WOODS
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Jan. 26, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 74
Disappointing at odds-on, this Union Rags debut filly can improve. Her works were messed up (race postponed four days by weather). She set the pace, tired, and galloped out in front.
IMAGE OF JOPLIN
Trainer: Bill Spawr
Last race: Jan. 26, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 83
Gelding claimed for $20,000 by excellent first-off-claim trainer Spawr from Mike Pender. Expect freshening and return similar level. Honest gelding will fire in any spot.
BLUE LAW
Trainer: Vann Belvoir
Last race: Jan. 28, 1st
Finish: 5th by 4
Beyer: 60
This comeback N2L claiming gelding was shuffled and steadied early, lost ground drifting out into the lane, and was one-paced. Belvoir claimed him from Bob Hess Jr. He is certain to move up next out.
PATTI KINSELLA
Trainer: Steve Miyadi
Last race: Jan. 28, 4th
Finish: 7th by 10 1/4
Beyer: 30
This was a slow maiden-claiming sprint, but this debut filly showed run. She was off slowly, hard held, climbing, behind runners into lane, and had no kick. Suspect she has more speed than shown. She will be a longshot second out.
WARD ’N JERRY
Trainer: Mike Puype
Last race: Jan. 28, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 2
Beyer: 96
This improving California-bred outran his 69-1 odds with a good effort in a $250,000 turf stakes. Eligible to an N2X, he figures to be tough when returns to the allowance ranks next out.
HE WILL
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Last race: Jan. 28, 7th
Finish: 4th by 2 1/2
Beyer: 96
Wide throughout under Rafael Bejarano (18-1-0-5 on turf), this gelding ran a lot better than it looks in Cal Cup turf route stakes. He could face Ward ’n Jerry in upcoming N2X.